Clip board



March 15, 1955 B. K. sLoNNEGER CLIP BOARD Filed July 11, 1951 UnitedStates Patent O CLIP BOARD Bruce K. Slonneger, Dayton, Ohio, assignor toThe Fogarty Manufacturing Co., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication July 11, 1951, Serial No. 236,109

13 Claims. (Cl. 281-44) This invention relates to clip boards of thekind which may be held and carried in the hand and which incorporateclip members spring urged into frictional contact with the board for thetemporary retention of writing paper, record sheets and the like.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well asthe means and mode of operation of clip boards, whereby such articlesmay not only be economically manufactured, but'will be more eiiicientand satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of uses, havingrelatively few parts and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide in a device of the classdescribed a clip member which is removably mounted on the board.

Another object of the invention is to support the clip member by meansserving simultaneously as a mount for the clip and as biasing meanstherefor.

A further object of the invention is to construct a generally new clipboard, using in the main sheet metal parts in which advantage is takenof large areas of frictional contact to reduce to a minimum the need forpermanent fastening devices.

Still another object of the invention is to utilize a simple structuralprinciple in the building of the clip board lending itself to a varietyof advantageous modiiications.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for adjustabilityof the clip assembly relatively to the board.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clip board possessingthe advantageous structural features, the inherent meritoriouscharacteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully appear in the specification, the invention intended to beprotected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction,the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, ashereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ortheir equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein is found the preferredbut obviously not necessarily the only forms of embodiment of theinvention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clip board constructed in accordancewith the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the clip end of the board of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the clip end of the boardof Fig. 1, and enlarged with respect to Figs. 1 and 2, the clip memberbeing omitted;

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 2, showing another embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective, showing a clip boardconstructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of an alternative form of spring, havingparticular application to the embodiments of Figs. 4 and 5; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3, showing still anotherembodiment of the invention.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings, a clip board in accordance with theembodiment of Figs. l, 2 and 3, is constructed of sheet metal or likematerial and comprises a flat sheet or board 10 of suitable dimensions.One end of the board 10 is selected as the top thereof. Fastened to the2,704,216 Patented Mar. 15, 1955 underside of the board 10 at suchselected end, by welding, riveting or the like, is a lamination 11taking the form of an extension of the board. The lamination orextension 11 overlaps the end of the board, with the projecting portionthereof being folded back upon itself on the top side thereof.

Disposed in transverse overlying relation to the extension 11, adjacentto the end of board 10, is a clip member 12. Such member is rectangularin shape and the long side edges thereof are turned in upon the body ofthe member to define folds 13 and 14. The folds 13 and 14 overlap oneanother and in the extremity of the fold 14 are cut out notches 15spaced apart across the length of the clip member. The notches 15 aresufficiently deep to provide an opening whereby one leg 16 of agenerally U-shaped leaf spring 17 may be inserted into the fold 13. Eachspring 17 has an intermediate body portion 18 and another leg 19 whichis anchored to the board 10 by being received within the fold defined bythe turned over end of extension 11. If desired, a rivet 21 or likedevice may be passed through the folded end of the extension 11 firmlyto secure the leg 19 of spring 17 with respect to the extension andboard 10 (Fig. 3). The clip member 12 thus is supported in the assemblyby the springs 17, of which there may be one or more, and normallyoccupies the inclined position shown by reason of an outward divergenceof the spring leg 16 and further by virtue of an expansive force builtinto the spring. The latter force is relatively strong and is exerted ina manner to urge the clip member in a twisting or rocking direction,effecting a frictional engagement of the front edge thereof withthesurface of the board 10, at the top end thereof.

The assembly of Figs. l to 3 further includes a rigid strip 22 extendingacross the extension 11 between the top end of the board 10 and the baseor body portion 18 of the spring or springs 17. The strip 22 is madefast to the extension 11 and lies in the same plane as the board 10, onelongitudinal edge thereof abutting the board and the other edge beingturned up to define a flange 23 upon which the portion 18 of the spring17 may seat and react under flexure thereof. The upstanding ange 23further serves as an abutment or locating means against which recordsheets may be engaged when placed upon the board 10. The record sheet,when in abutting relation with flange 23, is properly aligned with theboard for ease in subsequent handling and recording of desired indiciathereon.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there is a slight offset or shoulder 20intermediate the strip 22 and board 10. Such shoulder may be formed invarious ways, for example by a difference in thickness in the board 10and strip 22, as shown. This structure is advantageous when usingcertain types of record sheets upon the board, particularly superposedrecord sheets which are stapled together to form a record set. With suchstationery, the staple which joins the superposed strips into anintegral set is placed against the shoulder to thereby align the setwith the clip board.

It will be understood that the upper or back edge of the clip member 12,and the folded end of extension 11 are arranged to be received withinthe hand of the user of the clip board who, by alternate squeezing andreleasing motions may raise and lower the front edge of the clip memberwith respect to the board 10.

In Fig. 4 a somewhat modified form of the invention is disclosed inwhich a relatively heavy board 24 is used, made of wood or a compositionmaterial. A supporting and tensioning spring 25 is used which isidentical to the spring 17. 1n this instance, however, the spring isfastened directly to the board by a nut and bolt connection 26. A clipmember 27 is used which is formed similarly to the member 12 except thatthe upper fold 28 includes a loop 29. The purpose of the loop 29 is toprovide a mounting place for a pencil or other writing instrument.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, a clip member 32 is used which is the sameas the member 27 except for a sight opening 33 in the lower frontsurface thereof. A strip 34 of paperboard or the like may be inserted inthe lower fold of the clip member, as illustrated, bearing a name orother identification to register with the opening 33. Also, in Fig. 5,there is illustrated a board 35 which obviates a need for an extensionlike element 11 of Figs. 1-3. In this instance the board itself extendsin underlying relation to the clip member, and the reverse fold 36 atthe top end of the board is an integral part thereof.

In Fig. 6 is shown an alternate form of spring 37 applicable to anyembodiment having the pencil mounting loops of Figs. 4 and 5. In thisspring, the upper arm or that engageable with the clip member is cutlaterally to define a nger 38 which then is given a set curve so that itmay function as a detent. In the installation of the spring, the linger38 is received in the loop 29 in longitudinal aligned relationtherewith. Accordingly, a pencil thrust in the loop 29 encounters thespring finger 38 which exerts a yielding pressure on the pencil,resisting its withdrawal.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, a clip assembly is here shown of a kindparticularly applicable to a board in which clip members are used oneach end thereof. Thus for simplified insertion and removal of papers orrecord sheets it is desirable to provide for a bodily shifting,lengthwise of the board, of either one or both of the clip members. Tothis end, in accordance with the instant invention, either one or bothof the clip assemblies includes a slidable extension member 39 whichunderlies the board 41 and has projecting tab portions 42 and 43respectively folded over the side and end edges of the board. The tab 43receives and anchors a spring 44, which, together with a clip member 45,may be constructed like any of the previously considered correspondingelements in Figs. l to 6. In the illustrated instance the spring is likethose of Figs. l-5, while the clip member is like that of Fig. 4 exceptthat the loop 29 is omitted.

The tab 42 embraces the board 41 and prevents lateral shifting of theassembly on the board. A positive guide for the movements of the clipassembly may be provided by a pin-in-slot connection as represented by aslot 46 in the board 41 and a rivet 47 interconnecting the board andextension member 39 and movable in the slot 46. The spring 44 may bemade fast to the tab 43 on the extension member but it will beunderstood that there will be little tendency toward separation of theseelements since both will ordinarily be encompassed in the hand of theoperator when shifting the clip assembly.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specic as to structural features, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A clip board including a board, a clip member extending transverselyacross said board, said member being generally rectangular in shape andmade of sheet metal with its side edges folded inward upon the body ofthe member, a U-shaped leaf spring, said member being substantiallycoextensive in width with said board and overlying one end of the board,means for anchoring one end of said leaf spring to the board, the otherend of said spring being frictionally received within the fold of oneside edge of said clip member and urging the clip member in a directionto frictionally engage the other side edge thereof with the board.

2. A clip board, including a board, an extension of flat sheet materialsecured to one end of said board and having its outer end folded backupon the body of the extension, a substantially U-shaped leaf spring,one end of which is received in and anchored in the fold on the outerend of said extension, a clip member extending across said extensionadjacent to the end of the board, said clip member being generallyrectangular in shape and made of tlat sheet material with the oppositeside edges thereof folded in toward the center of the member, the otherend of said leaf spring being received within the fold of one side edgeof said clip member to support said member on the board and urge it in adirection to frictionally engage the opposite side edge thereof with theboard, and a rigid strip of material extending across said extension inthe same plane with said board and secured to said extension, onelongitudinal edge thereof abutting the board and the oppositelongitudinal edge being turned over to provide a seat for theintermediate or base portion of said spring.

3. A clip board according to claim 2, characterized in that said rigidstrip is of lesser thickness than said board thus providing an ofset orstep down relationship therebetween.

4. A clip board including a generally rectangular board having one endfolded back upon itself, a substantially U-shaped leaf spring, one endof which is received in and anchored in the fold on the end of saidboard, and a clip member substantially coextensive in width with saidboard and extending across said board in overlying relation to thefolded end thereof, the other end of said leaf spring being fastened tosaid clip member to support ls)aid nember and urge it into frictionalcontact with the oar 5. A clip board according to claim 4, characterizedin that said clip member is generally rectangular in shape and made ofsheet metal with the opposite side edges thereof folded in toward thecenter of the member, the said other end of said leaf spring beingreceived within the fold of one side edge of said clip member.

6. A clip board, as set forth in claim l, characterized by one of thefolded side edges of the clip member being formed with a loop to receivea writing instrument.

7. A clip board according to claim 1, characterized by one of the foldedside edges of the clip member being `formed with a loop to receive awriting instrument, and

a curved detent finger on the said other end of said spring received insaid loop to yieldingly retain an inserted writing instrument in saidloop.

8. A clip board according to claim l, characterized by an opening insaid clip member serving as a sight window into the fold on the saidother side edge of said clip member, said fold providing a passage forthe insertion of a strip of paperboard or the like bearing indicia toregister with said opening.

9. A clip board according to claim 1, characterized by an extensionmember in underlying relation to said board and having projecting sideand end portions turned over upon the sides and one end of said board,said extension being slidable longitudinally of said board, saidU-shaped leaf spring having one end clamped between the board and theturned over end portion of said extension.

10. A clip board according to claim l, characterized by an extensionmember in underlying relation to said board and having a projectionturned over upon said board, a pin-in-slot connection between saidextension and said board whereby said extension is movablelongitudinally of said board, said U-shaped leaf spring having one endclamped between the board and the turned over projection of saidextension.

11. A clip board according to claim 1, characterized by a second clipmember extending across the opposite end of said board, a secondgenerally U-shaped leaf spring mounting the second clip member on saidboard and urging said member toward frictional contact with the board,and independent means for anchoring said second leaf springs on theboard, at least one of said anchoring means being adjustable lengthwiseof the board.

l2. A clip board including a generally rectangular board, a clip memberextending substantially over the full width of one end of said board,said member being made of at sheet material and presenting infoldedoverlapping side edges facing said one end of the board, one or morenotches cut in one of said side edges, a generally U-shaped leaf springfor each of said notches, one leg of said spring entering through arespective notch into the fold of a side edge of said clip member andbeing frictionally received therein, and means for anchoring the otherleg of said spring to said board.

13. A clip board, including a generally rectangular board, a clip memberextending across one end of the board over substantially the full widththereof and occupying a relatively small part of the length thereof,said member being made of a tlat sheet material and presenting infoldedoverlapping side edges, a longitudinal series of notches cut in one ofsaid side edges, a plurality of leaf springs occupying spaced positionslongitudinally of said clip member between said member and said board,each of said springs having a body portion at right angles to said boardand a first leg in parallel relation to said board and extending towardsaid one end of the board and further having a second leg in inclinedrelation to said board and extending toward said one end of the board,said leaf springs corresponding in number to said notches in the clipmember and registering with said notches, the said second leg of eachsaid springs entering through a respective notch into the fold of theother side edge of said clip member wherein it is frictionally received,and means for anchoring the said rst leg of each said springs to saidboard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSWintermute Oct. 13, 1896 Tysen Oct. 19, 1897 Adams June 18, 1901Washburn Nov. 21, 1905 Bulkley Apr. 23, 1907 Brown Mar. 1, 1910 AbbottAug. 26, 1924 Jones May 29, 1928 Guillod Apr. 11, 1939 Hooks Apr. 17,1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 15, 1894

